CAVITE │ Countryside Steakhouse and Cafe

Another restaurant tried last week at Dasmarinas Cavite area for our brunch. This food stop is just beside my alma matter DLS-HSI and Nicasia Dorm built. As far as I remember, 2 years ago this estab wasn't existed and since different Universities around, lots of food restos sprouted.

Upon entering the resto, you will notice their cowboy inspired interior from their ceilings to their decorations.

Minus the pink and white balloons, due to valentines season, ambiance is good, cowboy feeling is well projected. Waiters' and waitress' promptness also adds to their nice food service.

They accommodated us well from entering the doors of reto until we finished our meal. Outside, we noticed their tarp, "T-bone steak" their specialty and which we immediately ordered it added with sisig, mushroom soup, extra rice, four seasons and cherry lemonade juices.

Sizzling sisig

Sizzling T-bone steak

Sisig and T-bone steak was served perfectly in sizzling plate with vegies on the side. Each good for 2 serving is really worth "dayo" for. hehe.

TOTAL SPENDINGS

P145.00 T-Bone Steak

P  95.00 Sisig

P  25.00 Mushroom Soup

P  18.00 Extra Rice (P9.00 each)

P  40.00 Cherry Lemonade

P  40.00 Four Seasons

P363.00 TOTAL (Good for two)

COUNTYSIDE STEAKHOUSE AND CAFE

Congresional Rd. Burol Main Dasmarinas City, Cavite │

http://countryside.com.ph/steakhouse/

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CAVITE │ Dinner at Ferncrest Garden Restaurant

Like everybody's favorite, food! I think it was started 2 years ago and I had been noticing this garden restaurant along the Aguinaldo highway at the midst of establishments at Dasmarinas Cavite everytime I went to Manila. Finally this foodie addict went here and tried if this restaurant really prove what it's exterior look offer.

I asked the waitress for their specialties and responded sinugba, buttered chicken and dinakdakan. I actually don't have any idea what sinugba and dinakdakan are and where it originate, well it doesn't matter as long as it tastes good!hehe.

Moving on with our order dinakdakan and buttered chicken, sinugba not included because we were just two then, we actually waited quite long. However, long wait was really worth, dishes was totally amazing!

Dinakdakan dish is like sisig added with fresh red and green peppers which gave the crunch and spiced up with green and red chillies. Crispy buttered chicken is also superb. It's buttery taste will make your taste buds to want more!

Ferncrest garden restaurant interior is like any other typical restaurant interior, nothing unique feature, kubos or huts and open space dining experience which is your choice. I like their counter which I think gave the warm look of the restaurant.

They also have indoor dining but not that huge as to compare I previously described. Honestly, from it's name "garden" restaurant, I thought menu would be painted with bowls of greens or the restaurant itself is situated in a middle of greenery garden, but I was wrong, hehe.

Maybe due to its interior design is obviously bamboo-inspired from it's decorations, chairs, hut, blinds and it's counter. Well ventilated and lighted dining area gave the restaurant nice and fresh look, however I think those white lamps may not suitable for a sweet romantic date,just a thought if you have plans. . :)

Another thing I notice is a small fountain at the restuarant's entrance welcoming costumers and a small window opening at the front. I don't know what exactly it is but it looks like a take out counter area but not utilized just for deco.

If you are planning to visit the said restaurant via commute, ride any dasma bound bus from Pasay and drop at Guevarra St., from there cross the high-way and you will notice the restaurant just beside Emilio S. Lim appliance center. Via private vehicle, head west to taft to Pasay rotonda then turn right to Roxas Boulevard, pass through express way, turn right to Emilio Aguinaldo highway then just before reaching Guevarra st. you will see Ferncrest at the left side of the road.   

TOTAL SPENDINGS

P200.00        Dinakdakan (good for 2)

P195.00        Buttered Chicken (good for 2)

P  80.00        Rice (P20.00/order)
P475.00        Total

FERNCREST GARDEN RESTAURANT

Aguinaldo Hi-way Zone 1A, Dasmarinas, Cavite │

(046) 432-0143

www.facebook.com/pages/Ferncrest-Garden-Restaurant

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MAKATI │ Makati Medical Center Chapel

Would you ever know that MMC, Makati Medical Center has a chapel? Yes of course like other any hospital has, but have you ever visited theirs?

Hospital's one essential area is the chapel, place where every prayers exalted. If had a chance to go here or even just pass by this hospital for easier access to the other side of the road, (like me every time I go to our clinic office...hehe) have time to visit.

From first floor of the hospital, go to tower 2 9th floor near circular building. Then you will saw Ledesma Hall where masses are celebrated for greater accommodation.

 Chapel is quite smaller than Ledesma Hall, just beside it, so basically masses weren't held here unless only few could attend, as in few. Nuns who assist during the celebration consistently remind people in the chapel if mass is going to start.

Makati Medical Center Chapel
No. 2 Amorsolo St. Legaspi Village 9th floor, Makati City 1229, Philippines │
(632) 8888-999 │ lifematters@makatimed.net.ph

MASS SCHEDULE
Monday-Sunday
7:00 AM, 12:00PM, 4:00PM

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PARANAQUE │ St. Martin De Porres Parish

Taking advantage of being sort of "travelling physiotherapist", which what they called in the US, Home PT here in the Philippines, I just decided yesterday to have some known places visits every time I have home PT patients, just around their area if any.

Moving on, I went to Paranaque twice a week for my home treatment sessions for this month and I searched the net for possible known landmarks nearby and this church came out, St. Martin de Porres church. I looked it from the google maps and knew where exactly it is. 2222 Narra St. United Hills Village 1713 Paranaque city, luckily it's exactly at the village of one of my home patients.

I went to exclusive United Hills village from Cavite, via bus all the way to Pasay rotonda and took Sucat Bicutan KALIWA jeepney, don't forget KALIWA (left) signage 'cause you might end up traversing wrong road which is KANAN (right) and spent some time going back. Just as ask the driver to drop you to the said village or just say United 1, it was called then as UPS1, United Paranaque Subdivision 1. Landmark would be Petron gas station on your left.

Upon entering the village's gate, every visitor will be asked about their purpose of getting in, so be sure to have any form of identification and of course your reason.

After passing through the gates, just walk straight ahead crossing Molave and Yacal streets, then on your right side you will saw covered basketball court which is just beside the white parish of St. Martin de Porres.

After my patient's treatment session, my real business at the said subdivision, I sneak to my next stop just few blocks away. It was my first time to enter and visit the said parish, it was like 11am in the morning. No church goers inside, of course it was almost an hour before lunch except for the church cleaners that time. They keenly swept the floors and kept outside plants in shape.

Going back to the parish design, interior is good and well maintained, beautifully planned and constructed evident through it's ceiling window design which made inside look well ventilated.

Glass pane front doors.

Mama Mary at the right side of the altar.

St. Martin de Porres statue in front of the parish.

Meeting the patron saint of the Church, I just knew that that St. Martin de Porres was the first black American saint known for his charitable activities,  love for the poor and the orphans and piety. He is also known as the Patron of  social justice and inter-racial love.

Parish liturgical services schedule.

ST. MARTIN DE PORRES DIOCESE OF PARANAQUE
2222 Narra St. United Hills Village Paranaque │ 2823-2842

SPENDINGS
Cavite-Pasay-Cavite Bus             - P72.00
Pasay-United Hills-Pasay            - P24.00
     TOTAL -                                  P98.00

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CAVITE │ Our Lady Of The Holy Rosary, De La Salle University-Dasmarinas Memorial Chapel

After we had Museo De La Salle tour, I headed alone at the University's Church and took some pictures to share it with you guys. I guess there's an everyday afternoon mass around 5PM so better drop by here after your tour, for Catholics.

This chapel was built by Conjuancos for Our Lady of The Holy Rosary beautifully situated near Aklatang Emilio Aguinaldo, La Comida, Museo De La Salle, Lake Park and Botanical Garden. Antiques and idols inside came from one of the collector donors from Ternate, Cavite, the Panlilios.

Interior was kinda good that time. Ceilings were like painted with brown dirt which gave a nice pattern in away. Chandeliers lighten up quarter to 5PM in preparation for the afternoon mass and patterns from old white ceiling became more noticeable.

Those lamps gave a warmer look, perfect to set mood for the mass celebration. However, I was sad because it wasn't well maintained that gave that dirty look in the ceiling part...but all in all the church was still in good condition.

St. John Baptist De La Salle icon.

After 9 years since I last visited our university's church, I can say that it kinda remains the same and still kept all the longing prayers of million's of Lasallian students at the campus. Hope I can visit it again and attend mass. Nakakamiss!

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CAVITE │ The Museo De La Salle Tour

Tour started with short rules and regulation of the Museum and intro of the University's tourism students and brief history of the architecture.

Lamesa from Bulacan.

In front of the 2 stairs up, story started from the large table at the center. This table came from Bulacan which has bones and teeth of alligator design.

Sciento room, Philippine Life and Biodiversity Then and Now.

After building's history and intro, we went to the first floor's left wing first room . Unfortunately, taking pictures inside is prohibited. This room is sponsored by DLSU-D Biological Sciences Department (BSD) to celebrate University's centenary. Upon entering this room, biological diversity including preserved animals donated by the department is exhibited as well as microbiological species seen through a microscope.

Arapaima.

Outside the sciento room is a displayed arapaima approximately 2.5 feet preserved creature which capture each visitor sight.

Exhibit next to Filipiniana room.

After the first room, we went to filipiniana room (if I am not mistaken) and cited different Saint wooden icons, amulet, headless and handless figures which missing parts were made of ivory and vintage closet and drawers. Moreover beside the room is an exhibit of two manikins wearing filipina's baro't saya. These Manikins serve as a gauge to filipino's original height level, approximately 4ft.

University clippings.

Handicraft vessels.

Vintage player.

Then we went to the museum's second level where main interior design is greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, picture taking is not permitted.

The interior design at second floor including the caida, sala mayor or the main sala, despacho, cuarto, oratorio for homw weddings, ceiling paintaings, wood crafts were inspired from careful research of 1800's Spanish Colonial time to 1900's American colonial period.

Museum Guidelines (lifted from Museum's brochure)
- No bags, cameras, cigarettes and lighters are allowed in the exhibition area except the following: hand-carried wallets/purses, passports and cellular phones (in mute or vibrate mode).
- No eating, drinking and smoking inside the museum.
- No touching and handling of exhibition objects.
- No wandering beyond the official tour route.

The Museo De La Salle
(046)416-4531/416-4533 loc.(3151)│www.dasma.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/museo
Open Tuesday to Saturday
9AM to 12NN; 1PM to 3:30PM
Entrance fee: Adults and Professionals Php 100.00
Students Php 40.00

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CAVITE │ Museo De La Salle Architectural Design

After almost 5 years since I last visited my Alma Matter, memories went back the time I reenter one of the famous Museum at Cavite, situated at the heart of our University, the Museo De La Salle.

The museum at De La Salle University - Dasmarinas, is dedicated to preserve some of 19th century Philippine ilustrado lifestyle culture and material collections from several donors and collectors.

This 19th-century two-storey building is bahay na bato inspired, the main lifestyle and design for that era which is made of brick and stone walls and huge logs ceiling design mainly found at the ground level. Upon entering the museum through postigo or door for pedestrians, welcoming stairs heading to the second floor warmed with lamps will be noticed. By the way Puerto Mayor, the huge arched front door is only used for passage of carriages and carrozas, so just postigo is opened during visits.

Upon entering, I approached the guard who lead us to the Museum's main office for the fee and tour guide.

Arched beams.

After fees settled, we're off and started our tour. Like some other museums, selective picture taking can be done. Here, ground level is open for photo shots with or without flash, however, rooms at the same level including the second is strictly prohibited for that.

Ground level's right wing.

Interior design was illuminated by lamps and beautiful collection in every sides and corners of the area.

St. John Baptist De La Salle on it's carroza at the left wing. 

Ceilings were also interesting to cite due to Styrofoam technique made to replicate log ceiling. Just imagine how heavy those things that might fall on their headt long time ago and even now if they made an authentic one. Huge room doors are also asset for the museum which gave dramatic look of 1900's.

Capiz divider posted as right wing wall design.

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